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Cathay Pacific Airways aims for daily Seattle and Washington D.C. services
September 28th 2018
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways aims to increase Hong Kong-Washington D.C. and Hong Kong-Seattle, respectively, from four times a week to daily flights, the airline’s CEO, Rupert Hogg, told media at a launch event at Washington Dulles International Airport this week. Read More » “Once we launch a destination, we try to get to daily,” he said on Tuesday.
The oneworld member started four a week A350-1000 flights to the U.S. capital on September 15 and has revealed plans for a four-weekly A350-900 Hong Kong- Seattle service from March 31. On Wednesday, alliance fellow, Japan Airlines, announced a daily Narita-Seattle B787-8 route, also from March 31. The Japanese airline will codeshare with Alaska Airlines out of Seattle.
Cathay’s -1000s seat 334 passengers in a three-class configuration. The -900s accommodate 280 passengers in a similar business, premium economy and economy class layout.
Cathay launched its last U.S. destination, Boston, as a four-weekly service in 2015. The Swire Group subsidiary upgraded Boston to daily earlier this year.
From October 28, Cathay will codeshare with its alliance fellow, Qantas Airways, on a limited number of flights from Hong Kong to Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Cathay also will place its ‘CX’ designator on 13 Qantas domestic routes, while the Australian airline will add its ‘QF’ code on 10 Cathay and Cathay Dragon operated flights.
This marks a significant turnaround in the relationship between the two airlines. Cathay and Qantas have long had a tense relationship because of competition on the Kangaroo Route and Qantas’ Jetstar Hong Kong, a prospective low-cost carrier that failed to take off in Hong Kong. At the time, Cathay very determinedly challenged the Jetstar AOC application as a breach of local aviation regulations.
“Building on the relationship we have with Cathay Pacific through oneworld, we will offer customers travelling from Australia more connections across Asia via Hong Kong, with the added benefit of a codeshare service,” said Qantas International CEO, Alison Webster.
“This new codeshare partnership is part of our growth strategy for the broader Asia region, with strong demand for travel between Australia and Asia.”
